String instrument, method of playing a string instrument, apparatus for manufacture of a string instrument, and string instrument kit

ABSTRACT

The present invention includes a string instrument that includes a neck having a finger board, a finger board having a plurality of frets and having a finger board axis along the length of the finger board, the frets having substantially parallel fret axes, and the fret axes oriented at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the finger board axis. The non-perpendicular angle is an obtuse angle or an acute angle. The string instruments are fretted string instruments including a guitar, a harp, a zither, an electric guitar, a bass guitar, mandolin, sitar, ukulele, and banjo. It is another object of the invention to provide a method of manufacturing a string instrument that includes the steps of attaching the plurality of the substantially parallel frets on the finger board of the instrument along the length of the finger board at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the finger board axis; and, forming and assembling the string instrument. The invention also provides a kit for playing music. The kit includes a string instrument and a number of string instrument accessories. These kit includes a instrument including a finger board having a plurality of frets and having a finger board axis along the length of the finger board, the frets having substantially parallel fret axes, and the fret axes oriented at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the finger board axis; and, a string instrument accessory. Exemplary string instrument accessories include a strap, tuning knobs, strings, a string instrument carrying case, a synthesizer, a mixer, an amplifier, speakers, guitar cable, foot pedals, a computer having a microprocessor, and a loudspeaker.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to string instruments, a method ofplaying a stringed instrument, an apparatus for manufacture of a stringinstrment, and a string instrument kit.

FIG. 1 illustrates a guitar of the prior art. Guitar 1 of the prior artincludes a number of frets 4 that are oriented at 90 degrees (angle α)with respect to an imaginary line 2 running down the center of neck 5.Known string instruments have the drawback that beginners, users andexperts including rock stars and other entertainers experience fingerand hand fatigue from extended play. This fatigue results from thearrangement of the frets 4 on the finger board of the instrument. For atleast the last 400 years these frets have been arranged at aperpendicular angle with respect to an imaginary line running down thecenter of the neck of the string instrument.

Rock stars or other entertainers who value speed in their play such asheavy metal performers find playing these string instruments rapidly tobe difficult since the perpendicular arrangement of the frets on theneck of the instrument is not conducive to rapid play. A furtherdrawback of known string instruments is that the arrangement of thefrets at a perpendicular angle provides for an inadequate reach to allof the chords that are desired. Hence, there exists a need for a stringinstrument that will provide a user with a longer reach with a user'sfingers, provide access to a greater number of chords with a user'sindividual fingers, and provide a greater span of frets that a user'sfingers can reach. There also exists a need for a string instrument thatwill greatly facilitate the playing of chords for both a novice andexpert user. There further exists a need for a string instrument thatwill decrease muscle and joint fatigue during extended play of theinstrument, for an instrument that releases the tension on the joints inthe thumb and associated with the thumb and hand, and help alleviatecarpal tunnel syndrome and nerve injury.

Another problem with known string instruments results in the wear on thedecorative surfaces including the neck of the instrument during extendedplay. A user's hand, palm, and/or fingers pass along the neck of aninstrument repeatedly and the friction between the user's hand andfinger's rubs off the paint or other decorative surface that isgenerally placed on the neck. A further problem includes joint, nerveand muscle pressure and damage from extended play. Much of this wear anddamage can be attributed to the generally faulty design of the necks ofstring instments. Hence, there exists a need for a string instrumentthat provides a neck of a design and construction that will reduce theamount of paint or other decorative material that is rubbed off the neckdue to repeated play, and for a string instrument that will reduce therisk of muscle, joint and nerve damage from extended play.

Yet another shortcoming of known string instruments includes the warpingof the neck due to the tension the neck is under from the strings oncethey are tightened. Attempts at curing this shortcoming have includedthe inclusion of bolts in the body of the neck which are tightened tobring the neck back into alignment. These attempted solutions have thefurther drawback of requiring manual adjustment by a user over time orcostly manufacture. Hence, there exists a need for string instrumenthaving a neck that does not require repeated manual adjustment, thatwill not warp over time and that will be inexpensive to manufacture.

There exists a need to solve the problems in the art that arearticulated above. It is an object of the invention to solve theseproblems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to overcome theshortcomings of the prior art by providing a string instrument thatincludes a finger board having a plurality of frets and having a fingerboard axis along the length of the finger board, the frets havingsubstantially parallel fret axes, and the fret axes oriented at anon-perpendicular angle with respect to the finger board axis.

The non-perpendicular angle is an obtuse angle or an acute angle. Theangles can also be in the range of 89 degrees to about 85 degrees, inthe range of about 85 degrees to about 75 degrees, in the range of about75 degrees to about 65 degrees, in the range of about 65 degrees toabout 45 degrees, in the range of about 45 degrees to about 1 degree, inthe range of about 91 degrees to about 95 degrees, in the range of about95 degrees to about 105 degrees, or in the range of about 105 degrees toabout 179 degrees.

Exemplary string instruments that utilize the inventions describedherein include a guitar, a harp, a zither, an electric guitar, a bassguitar, mandolin, sitar, ukulele, and banjo.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method ofmanufacturing a string instrument that includes the steps of attachingthe plurality of the substantially parallel frets on the finger board ofthe instrument along the length of the finger board at anon-perpendicular angle with respect to the finger board axis; and,forming and assembling the string instrument.

The method can be executed manually or with an apparatus formanufacturing a string instrument that includes a fret connector forattaching the plurality of the substantially parallel frets on thefinger board along the length of the finger board at a non-perpendicularangle with respect to the finger board axis; and, a string instrumentformer and assembler.

The invention also provides a kit for playing music. The kit includes astring instrument as described herein and a number of string instrumentaccessories. The kit includes an instrument including a finger boardhaving a plurality of frets and having a finger board axis along thelength of the finger board, the frets having substantially parallel fretaxes, and the fret axes oriented at a non-perpendicular angle withrespect to the finger board axis; and, a string instrument accessory.Exemplary string instrument accessories include a strap, tuning knobs,strings, a string instrument carrying case, a synthesizer, a mixer, anamplifier, speakers, guitar cable, foot pedals, a computer having amicroprocessor, and a loudspeaker.

It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a neck for astring instrument. The neck includes a finger board having a pluralityof frets and having a finger board axis along the length of the fingerboard, the frets having substantially parallel fret axes, and the fretaxes oriented at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the fingerboard axis.

It is another object of the invention to provide a neck for a stringinstrument that is contoured along the length of the neck body toaccommodate a user's thumb joint, muscles, or bone of a user on a handof a user that grasps the neck body of the string instrument so thatwear on the neck body during repeated play by a user is reduced.

The invention also includes a neck for a string instrument whichincludes a finger board having a plurality of frets, a neck bodyconnected to the finger board, the neck body having a reinforcing membercurved downwardly toward the bottom of the neck body so that warping ofsaid neck is greatly reduced. The necks of the present invention areprovided alone or connected to a string instrument. The reinforcingmember extends across a full width of the neck body in one variant, orthe reinforcing member extends partially across the width of the neckbody in another variant.

It is yet another object of the invention to solve the problem thatbeginners, users and experts experience with finger and hand fatiguefrom extended play. Yet another object of the invention is to provide astring instrument that allows rock stars or other entertainers who valuespeed in their play such as heavy metal performers to play these stringinstruments more rapidly.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a string instrumentthat provides an arrangement of the frets at a non-perpendicular angleto give an adequate reach to all of the chords that are desired, toprovide a string instrument that will give a user a longer reach with auser's fingers, to provide access to a greater number of chords with auser's individual fingers, and to provide a greater span of frets that auser's fingers can reach.

Another object of the invention is to provide a string instrument thatwill greatly facilitate the playing of chords for both a novice andexpert user, to provide a string instrument that will decrease muscleand joint fatigue during extended play of the instrument, to provide foran instrument that releases the tension on the joints in the thumb andassociated with the thumb and hand, and help alleviate carpal tunnelsyndrome and nerve injury, and to provide a string instrument that makeslearning how to play the string instrument easier.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a string instrumentthat minimizes wear on the decorative surfaces including the neck of theinstrument during extended play when a user's hand passes along the neckof an instrument repeatedly over the neck, provides a decreasedprevalence of joint, nerve and muscle pressure and damage from extendedplay, and that provides a neck of a design and construction that willreduce the amount of paint or other decorative material that is rubbedoff the neck.

The present invention also overcomes the problem of warping of the neckof a string instrument due to the tension the neck is under from thestrings once they are tightened.

The objects and features of the present invention, other than thosespecifically set forth above, will become apparent in the detaileddescription of the invention set forth below and in the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a prior art guitar;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the neck of a string instrument of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a variant of the neck of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross sectional view of the neck of FIG. 3 alongsection 4' and further including a curved portion of a neck body;

FIG. 5 illustrates a string instrument that is a guitar having the neckof FIG.3;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded side view of the neck of FIG. 7;

FIG. 7 illustrates an assembled side view of the neck of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates a variant of the neck of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 illustrates a top plan view of an apparatus for manufacturing thefinger board of the string instrument of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 illustrates the various accessories of a kit of the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 illustrates an apparatus for inserting frets into a base fingerboard according to the present invention; and,

FIG. 12 is a variant of the invention that provides for frets at varyingangles on a fret board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 5 illustrates a string instrument 122 that includes finger board124. Finger board 124 has a plurality of frets 108 along the length offinger board 124. Finger board 124 has a finger board axis running alongthe length of finger board 124 along imaginary line 102 (FIGS. 2, 3, and5). Frets 108 are arranged substantially or totally parallel one toanother. Frets 108 have substantially or totally parallel fret axesarranged along imaginary lines 104 (FIGS. 2 and 5), 114 (FIG. 2). Thefret axes along imaginary lines 104, 114 are oriented at anon-perpendicular angle β (FIG. 2) or ε (FIGS. 3 and 5) with respect tofinger board 124 axis imaginary line 102. Imaginary line 102 is an axisof symmetry of finger board 124 in one variant. Necks 100, 100' and 100"include optional head 106.

The non-perpendicular angle is an obtuse angle ε (FIGS. 3 and 5) or anacute angle β (FIG. 2). The non-perpendicular angle is an angle in therange of 89 degrees to about 85 degrees, an angle in the range of about85 degrees to about 75 degrees, an angle in the range of about 75degrees to about 45 degrees, an angle in the range of about 45 degreesto about 10 degrees. The non-perpendicular angle is an angle is in therange of about 91 degrees to about 95 degrees, in the range of about 95degrees to about 105 degrees, and in the range of about 105 degrees toabout 170 degrees.

It is appreciated that by aligning frets 108 at a non-perpendicularangle with respect to imaginary line 102 a user has a longer reach alongfret board 110, 112. Also the user's fmgers can reach more frets 108 andtherefore play more notes readily and rapidly. That is the span of frets108 that a user's fingers can reach is greater, thus providing foreasier and faster play. Consequently, playing chords is greatlyfacilitated. Further, advantages include a reduced risk of muscle andjoint fatigue from play since the fingers of a user's hand rest morenaturally on fret board 110, 112 during play of string instrument 122.

A variety of string instruments are known that can utilize the presentinvention. Exemplary string instruments include a guitar, an acousticguitar, a harp, a zither, an electric guitar, a bass guitar, a mandolin,a sitar, a ukulele, and a banjo. The use of the invention is of coursecontemplated in other string instruments that are manually played with auser's fingers.

It is further appreciated that as shown in FIG. 5, saddle 119, nut 120,pick-up(s) 133, and/or bridge nut 127 can be oriented on stringinstrument body 125 in such a way that the saddle 119, nut 120,pick-up(s) 133, and/or bridge nut 127 are angled to be substantiallyparallel to frets 108. In another embodiment (not shown) saddle 119, nut120, pick-up(s) 133, and/or bridge nut 127"" can be orientedperpendicular to axis 102. It is also appreciated that the axis of thefinger board 102 can either be in the plane of string instrument body125, angled back of the plane of string instrument body, or angledforward of the plane of the string instrument body 125 in variants ofthe invention.

The invention also includes a method of manufacturing a stringinstrument 122 having a finger board 124, having a plurality ofsubstantially parallel frets 108, and having a finger board 124 axisalong the length of finger board 124. The method includes the steps ofattaching, fixing, removeably connecting, or mounting the plurality ofsubstantially parallel frets 108 on finger board 124 along the length offinger board 124 at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to fingerboard 124 axis that runs along imaginary line 102. Conventional frets108 are utilized in the invention. Finger board 124 can also be madefrom a variety of materials. The method also includes the steps offorming and assembling string instrument 122.

Apparatus 206 is utilized for manufacturing string instrument 122. Thestring instrument 122 has finger board 124, a plurality of substantiallyparallel frets 108, and a finger board 124 axis along the length offinger board 124. The apparatus 206 includes cutter 206 for cutting cutsor notches 109 which are cut along imaginary lines 104, 114 in fretboard 124. As shown in FIG. 9, cutter 206 includes a plurality of blades200 (rotary or band) that notch or cut base fret board 124' to form cutsor notches 109 which are substantially congruent to fret 108 bottomportions.

Cutter 206 includes shaft 202 onto which blades 200 are mounted. Shaft202 is driven by motor 204. It is appreciated that base, uncut fretboard 124' is fed into cutter 206 at an appropriate pre-determined angleto form the appropriate cuts or notches 108. It is also appreciated thatwhile a rotary system is shown in FIG. 9 it is also possible to use aband saw(s) with a plurality of blades, a sabre saw with a plurality ofblades, a laser, or other cutting instrument to make appropriate cuts109 in base fret board 124'. It is also appreciated that frets 108 maybe directly mounted on top of fret board 124 with adhesive withoutcutting cuts 109.

Frets 108 are inserted into cuts 109 and affixed thereto with adhesive,friction fit or other appropriate means. An optional fret insertionhead(s) 111 (FIG. 11) attach a single or the plurality of substantiallyparallel frets 108 in cuts 109 in base finger board 124' along thelength of finger board 124' at a non-perpendicular angle β or ε withrespect to finger board 124 axis along imaginary lines 104, 114. It isappreciated that other mechanical assemblies can be used to affix frets108 to fret cuts 109 in finger board 124. A string instrument former andassembler is then used to assemble the members of the string instrument.It is appreciated that frets 109 may be also formed integrally with basefret board 124' and need not be separate therefrom.

A kit for playing music is also described herein. The kit includesstring instrument 122 or other variant thereof as described herein. Thekit also includes a string instrument accessory. Exemplary stringinstrument accessories are illustrated in FIG. 10. The string instrument122 includes a finger board 124 having a plurality of frets 108 andhaving a finger board 124 axis along the length of the finger board 124,the frets 108 having substantially parallel fret axes, and the fret axesoriented at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the finger board124 axis.

The string instrument accessory as shown in FIG. 10 is selected from thegroup consisting of a string instrument strap 208, tuning knobs 210,116, set of strings 118, roll of string 212, a string instrumentcarrying case 214, a synthesizer 216, a mixer 218, an amplifier 222,speakers 224, guitar cable 226, foot pedals 228, a computer having amicroprocessor 230 and routines for playing instrument 212, a lightingsystem related to the string instrument 220, and a loudspeaker 232.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section of a variant of the neck 100 for astring instrument of the present invention including an optional neckbody 126. The neck 100 includes finger board 124 having a plurality offrets 108. Neck 100 includes neck body 126 which is generally formed ofconventional materials including wood, metal, plastic, carbon fibre,teflon, fiberglass and the like. Neck body 126 is connected to stringinstrument body 125. Neck body 126 is also connected to finger board124. Neck body 126 has neck body contoured portion 128' along the lengthof neck body. Neck body contoured portion 128' is sized and dimensionedto accommodate a user's thumb joint, muscles, or bone of a user on ahand of a user that grasps neck body 126 during play of the stringinstrument. It is appreciated that wear on the neck body during repeatedplay by a user is reduced. Contoured portion 128' can be sized anddimensioned to accommodate the most common average size of a user'shand, e.g. a child, an adult male, or adult female. Contoured portion128' can also be universally sized and dimensioned. Contoured portion128' can also custom made to provide for a custom fit to a user's hand,palm and fingers.

It is appreciated that the use of contoured portion 128' will notdetrimentally affect the warping of neck 100. The strings 118 that restover contoured portion 128' are generally under less tension than theother strings 118 that are not over contoured portion 128'. As suchthere is less of a tendency to warp of neck 100. The use of contouredportion 128' results in less wear and pressure on the joint that joinsthe proximal phalanx and distal phalanx, releases the tension on thejoint associated with the thumb and hand, and helps reduce the risk ofcarpal tunnel syndrome and nerve injury.

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate necks 100', 100" for a string instrument 122. FIG.6 is an exploded view of the assembled neck of FIG. 7. Neck 100'includes finger board 124 having a plurality of frets 108 and neck body126. Neck body 126 is connected to string instrument body 125 atconnecting portion 142. Neck body 126 has a curved or bowed up portion140. Portion 140 is made by cutting neck body 126 or forming itotherwise. Reinforcing member 128 is curved downwardly toward or withrespect to the bottom of neck body 126. Reinforcing member 128 is madefrom a spring steel, a metal, carbon steel, a hardwood, fibreglass,Kevlar® or other appropriate material. Reinforcing member 128 functionsin much the same way as elements of a bridge (highway bridge, trainbridge, pedestrian bridge) using the principles of bridge construction.Reinforcing member 128 is arched so that when strings 118 are tensioned,reinforcing member 128 pushes against stops 136, 138 which areconstructed from wood, metal or other appropriate material. These stops136, 138 can optionally be located in notches 144, 146 or some otherlocation as appropriate.

This results in a decrease in warping of the entire neck 100', 100".That is, a warping force is generated by the tensioned strings 118 thatis counteracted by the support of the entire assembly shown. Fret boardmember 134 can be of one or two piece construction. Member 128 is shownas a single piece in FIGS. 6 and 7. It is contemplated that fret boardmember 128 can be of a two piece construction where fret board 124 isconnected to member 128 by adhesive or other means known in the art.Reinforcing member 128 generally extends across the full width w of neckbody 100, 100' and can be tapered as appropriate to be substantiallycongruent to neck body 100 or fret board 124. In a variant member 128can rest in a pocket (not shown) within the neck body as appropriate.Member 128 can optional be of spring steel and biased down toward neckbody 126.

Fret board member 134 is also curved or arched at the bottom end 130facing member 128. End portions 132 and 137 are generally thicker inheight than middle portion 139 in one variant of the invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a variant of the invention in which a single orplurality of members 128 can rest in neck body 126 in neck variant 100"substantially parallel to one another. Neck body 134 includes a singleor a plurality of grooves 135 that are cut into neck body 134. Grooves135 can be cut into each side of neck body 134 across the length of theneck body 134. A single or a plurality of members 128 are then fittedinto these grooves 135, along with optional stops 136, 138. An optionallip 137 is provided to accommodate the reinforcing member assembly. Fretboard 124 in then connected to neck body 134 as required. In thisvariant, reinforcing member 128 extends partially across width w of neckbody 134 or neck 100".

In FIG. 12, a variant of the invention provides for adjustable frets ona requisite fret board 124 or neck 100. Normally, fretted instrument 122has frets 108 thereon fixedly secured to fret board 124. In the variantof FIG. 12, a plurality of frets 108 are simultaneously adjustable todifferent angles ε or β. Frets 108 are connected to a center member 406(member 406 is generally fixedly secured to neck 100) or fret board 124at pivot points 401, 402. Connecting member 405 is connected to frets108 at pivot points 403, 404. When members 405 or 406 are moved allfrets 108 move in unison to a predetermined angle. The member 405, 406or frets 108 are then locked in place by locking means (not shown) andthe instrument can be played. It is appreciated that the assembly shownin FIG. 12 is only illustrative and other means can also be used toobtain a plurality of simultaneously, variably adjustable frets 108 sothat fretted string instrument 122 of the present invention can becustomized to a user's preference.

While only a few, preferred embodiments of the invention have beendescribed hereinabove, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognizethat the embodiment may be modified and altered without departing fromthe central spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the preferredembodiment described hereinabove is to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced herein.

I claim:
 1. A neck, a bridge string instrument, comprising:a fingerboard having a nut and a plurality of frets and having a fingerboardaxis along the length of said finger board, said frets havingsubstantially parallel fret axes, and said fret axes and said nutoriented at a non-perpendicular anile with resect to said finger boardaxis, a neck body connected to said finger board, said neck body havinga reinforcing member curved downwardly with respect to the bottom ofsaid neck body, and said bridge being oriented at an angle that isgreater than said non-perpendicular angle; whereby warping of said neckbody is greatly reduced and ease of play of said string instrument isfacilitated.
 2. The neck of claim 1 connected to a string instrument. 3.The neck of claim 1 in which said reinforcing member extends across afull width of said neck body.
 4. The neck of claim 1 in which saidreinforcing member extends partially across the width of said neck body.5. The neck of claim 1 in which said nut is substantially parallel tosaid fret axes.
 6. The string instrument of claim 1 in which saidnon-perpendicular angle is an acute angle.
 7. The string instrument ofclaim 1 in which said non-perpendicular angle is an obtuse angle.
 8. Thestring instrument of claim 1 in which said non-perpendicular angle is inthe range of 89 degrees to about 85 degrees.
 9. The string instrument ofclaim 1 in which said non-perpendicular angle is in the range of about85 degrees to about 75 degrees.
 10. The string instrument of claim 1 inwhich said non-perpendicular angle is in the range of about 75 degreesto about 65 degrees.
 11. The string instrument of claim 1 in which saidnon-perpendicular angle is in the range of about 65 degrees to about 45degrees.
 12. The string instrument of claim 1 in which saidnon-perpendicular angle is in the range of about 45 degrees to about 10degrees.
 13. The string instrument of claim 1 in which saidnon-perpendicular angle is in the range of 91 degrees to about 95degrees.
 14. The string instrument of claim 1 in which saidnon-perpendicular angle is in the range of 95 degrees to about 105degrees.
 15. The string instrument of claim 1 in which saidnon-perpendicular angle is in the range of 105 degrees to about 170degrees.
 16. The neck of claim 1 further comprising a string instrumentcomponent, said string instrument component selected from the groupconsisting of a guitar body, a harp body, a zither body, an electricguitar body, a bass guitar body, a mandolin body, a sitar body, aukulele body, a banjo body, a balalaika body, a dulcimer body, a lutebody, and a virginal body.